WVU mascot told to stop firing musket at wildlife

December 7, 2012

CHARLESTON, W.Va. &#8212; West Virginia University has ordered its musket-toting mascot to stop using his university-issued weapon on hunting trips after an online video showed him killing a black bear.

In the video, Jonathan Kimble is shown firing the muzzle-loaded long gun at the bear in a tree.

WVU spokesman John Bolt says officials spoke to Kimble about it and that the mascot broke no laws.

Kimble said Friday that he's been hunting all his life and this was the first black bear he's ever killed.

He says he apologizes if anyone was offended by him killing the bear.

The WVU mascot wears buckskin and a coonskin cap and fires the musket &#8212; minus ammunition &#8212; at home athletic events and school-sponsored events.